Internal combustion engine valve mechanism



June 7, 1932. w. KASTEN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE VALVE MECHANISM FiledNov. 21, 1930 2 Sheets-Shee June 7, 1932. w. KASTEN INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINE VALVE MECHANISM Filed Nov. 21, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patenteddune Ti,

WALTER KASTEN, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB T0 SKINNER MOTORS, INC.,01? DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINE VALVE MECHANISM Application filed November 21, 1930. Serial No.497,186.

My invention pertains to certain structural and operating changes andadvantages in the valve mechanisms of internal-combustion engines andrelates more particularly to improvements in sliding valves and theiroperating means.

One outstanding aim or purpose of the invention is the provision ofsimplified means for actuating such valves, such mechanism requiring, ormaking desirable, certain modifications in the valves themselves.

The invention is of especial advantage and adaptability forincorporation or embodiment in semi-circular sliding valves, which,heretofore,have been used in pairs with a separate or independentactuating means for each valve, thus necessitating the employment ofoperating mechanism at each side of the cylinder.

According to the principles of the present new invention, the valves areso constructed that both may be worked by means positioned only at oneside of the engine-cylinder.

To enable those trained in this art to understand the invention fully, apresent, preferred embodiment of the same has been illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and for simplicity, like reference numerals havebeen employed to designate the same parts throughout the several views.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section through amulti-cylinder, internal-combustion engine in which the invention hasbeen combined. or employed, the engine comprising two rows oftransversely, oppositely, inclined cylinders, according to a commonpractice;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale showing a partonly of the eccentric or crank-shaft for operating the sliding valves;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-section on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the arcuate or curved slidingvalves;

Figure 5 is a similar view of its companion, reciprocatory valve; and

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate more or less diagrammatically another meansfor actuating the valves.

Referring to these drawings, which present a multi-cylinder, \I-type ofinternal-combustion engine with two rows of aligned cylinders arrangedat an angle to one another, it will be observed that Figure 1 shows twosuch cylinders 11 and 12 in cross-section.

Each such water-cooled, outer cylinder houses a suitably-supported,inner cylinder or sleeve 13 concentric therewith and spaced inwardlyaway therefrom, each such internal cylinder terminating just below theinlet and exhaust ports 14 and 15, respectively, of the companion, outercylinder.

Bearing on the upper end of the inner cylinder there is a split,expansible sealing-ring 16 having ports 17 and 18 in register with thecorresponding ports of the outer cylinder.

Such sealing-ring is free to expand and contract and it co-operates withthe ported, curved or arcuate valves 19 and 21 between and slidablelengthwise of the two. cylinders.

Each cylinder has a suitable head 22 and between this and thesealing-ring appropriate co-operating members 23 are employed to sealthe gas pressures in the cylinders, but without precluding the desiredfreedom of expansion and contraction of the sealingring. Suchpressure-sealing construction constitutes the subject-matter of anotherpending so patent application.

Within the inner cylinders, the sliding pistons 24 are used and theseare joined by connecting-rods .25, 26, in the usual way, to a commoncrank-shaft 27.

So far as thus described, there is nothing substantially novel, but theshapes of the valves are new and the operating mechanism is improved.

Each inlet-valve 19 at its upper end extends half-way around thecompanion cylinders and such upper part has a bridged port 28 adaptedand designed to co-operate with the admission port 14 of the outercylinder and the intake-port 17 of the sealingring.

In order that the two inlet-valves of the two opposed cylinders may beoperated by suitable mechanism between the cylinders,

' each such valve has an extension 29 reaching about quarter way aroundthe cylinders, and such extension is equipped with a pair of spaced,apertured lugs 31, 31 located approximately 180 from, or aboutdiametrically opposite, the middle of the ported, upper part of thevalve.

Each of the two exhaust-valves 21 has a port 32 co-acting with thecorresponding ports of the outer cylinder and sealing-ring, and eachsuch valve has a longitudinallystraight, transversely-curved extension33 fitted with a pair of outstanding, spaced, apertured lugs 34, 34located beside the similar lugs 31, 31 of the companion intake-valve.

The extension or projection 33 extends around about one-fourth of thecylinders, and its lugs 34, 34 are approximately in register oralignment with the middle of the' wider, upper section 21 of such valve.

This close arrangement of the lugs of both valves of the same cylinderallows the use of an operating or actuating means for the two on oneside only of the cylinder, and the collocation or grouping of thecylinders permits the employment of a single eccentric or crank-shaft orsimilar means between the cylinders for working all of their valves.

Accordingly, a crank-shaft 35, revoluble in suitable bearings androtated by the engine by any approved means in propertimed relation tothe operation of its various elements, is positioned above the main,engine crank-shaft 27 and approximately between the inclined cylindersof the two groups or rows. 1

Each crank-section 36 of such shaft 35 is operatively connected to andreciprocates the intake-valve 19 of one cylinder and the exhaust-valve21 of the opposed cylinder, and, to this end, each such crank-portion 36is joined by an ordinary connecting-rod 37 to a wrist-pin 38 mounted inthe lugs 31. 31' of.

the inlet-valve of one cylinder and by another connecting-rod 39 to awrist-pin 41 carried by the lugs 34:, 34 of the exhaustvalve of theopposite cylinder.

Thus, by a single crank-shaft, or any other appropriate operatingmechanism, located at one side only of the cylinder or at one side onlyof the piston and its connectingrod, both sliding valves arereciprocated in the correct manner, and, by positioning such actuatingmeans, as shown, all of the valves of the two groups of opposedcylinders may be properly worked.

Those skilled in this art will readily understand that the invention, asdefined by the appended claims, is not limited and restricted to theprecise and exact details of structure shown and described, and thatmany more or less radical modifications may be incorporated in thestructure without departure from the heart and essence of the inventionand without the loss or sacrifice of any of its substantial or materialbenefits or advantages.

For example, in some cases the structure presented in Figures 6 and 7may be used to advantage.

In this instance, the single crank section 51 of the crank-shaft 52, bysuitable connecting-rods operates the intake-valve of one cylinder andthe exhaust-valve of the opposed cylinder, the crank portion 53 actuatesthe exhaust-valve of the first-mentioned cylinder and another cranksection 54 works the intake-valve of the second-mentioned cylinder.

Although this invention has been illustrated and described asincorporated in an internal-combustion engine, it should be borne inmind that it is equally applicable for satisfactory employment in an aircompressor or similar structure.

I claim:

1. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a ported outercylinder, an inner cylinder inside of and spaced inwardly away from saidouter cylinder, a head for said outer cylinder, a piston slidable insaid inner cylinder, a crank-shaft to which said piston is operativelyconnected, a pair of substantially semi-circular valves unitedly forminga practically complete circle cooperating with the ports of said outercylinder and located between and slidable lengthwise of said cylinders,means to seal the gas pressures in said cylinders, a rotary shaftrevolved by said crank-shaft, and means 0peratively connecting saidrotary shaft to both of said valves to effect their reciprocations.

2. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside of andspaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, a head for said outercylinder, a piston slidable in said inner cylinder, a crank-shaft towhich said piston is operatively connected, a-pair of substantiallysemicircular inlet and exhaust valves unitedly forming a practicallycomplete circle cooperating with the corresponding ports of said outercylinder and located between and slidable lengthwise of said cylinders,means to seal the gas pressures in said cylinders, and

means operated by said crank-shaft and located at one side only of saidpiston reciproeating both of said valves.

3. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinderhaving inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder in-' circular inletand exhaust valves unitedly' forming a practically complete circlecooperating with the corresponding ports of said seaeaa outer cylinderand located between and slid able lengthwise of said cylinders, means toseal the gas pressures in said cylinders, an eccentric shaft rotated bysaid crank-shaft and located at one side of said piston, and meansoperatively connecting said eccentric shaft to both of said valves toeflect their reciprocations.

4. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside of andspaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, a head for said outercylinder, a piston slidable in said inner cylinder, a crank-shaft towhich said piston is operatively connected, a pair of substantiallysemicircular inlet and exhaust ports unitedly forming a practicallycomplete circle cooperating with the corresponding ports of said outercylinder and located between and slidable lengthwise of said cylinders,means to seal the gas pressures in said cylinders, said valves havinglower portions in substantial alignment with the transverse center ofone of said valves, and operating means actuated by said crank-shaft andlocated at one side only of said piston and connected to said valvelower portions to effect the valve reciprocations.

5. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside of andspaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, a head for said outercylinder, a piston slidable in said inner cylinder, a crankshaft towhich said piston is operatively connected, a pair of substantiallysemi-circular inlet and exhaust valves unitedly forming a practicallycomplete circle cooperating with the corresponding ports of said outercylinder and located between and slidable lengthwise of said cylinders,means to seal the ga's pressures in said cylinders, said valves hav inglower portions with lugs in substantial alignment with the transversecenter of one of said valves, an eccentric shaft located at one side ofsaid piston and rotated by said crank-sh aft, and connecting-rodsjoining-said eccentric shaft with said valve lugs to effect the valvereciprocations.

6. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a pair of outercylinders arranged at an angle to one another and each having inlet andexhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside of and spaced inwardly away fromeach of said outer cylinders, a head for each of said outer cylinders, apiston slidable in each of said inner cylinders, a crankshaft to whichsaid pistons are operativcly connected, a pair of substantiallysemi-circular inlet and exhaust valves unitedly forming a practicallycomplete circle for and 00- operating with the corresponding ports ofeach of said outer cylinders and located between and slidable lengthwiseof said cylinders, means to seal the gas pressures in said cylinders,and means operated by said crankshaft and located between said pistonsfor reciprocating both valves of both cylinders.

7. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a pair of outercylinders arranged at an angle to one another and each having inlet andexhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside of and spaced inwardly away fromeach of said outer cylinders, a head for 1 joined to one crank portionof said rotary crank-shaft and connected to and reciprocating theinlet-valve of one cylinder and the exhaust-valve of the other cylinder,and connecting-rods joined to another crank portion of said rotarycrank-shaft and connected to and reciprocating the exhaust-valve of saidfirst cylinder and the inlet-valve of said second cylinder.

8. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a pair of outercylinders arranged at an angle to one another and each having inlet andexhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside of and spaced inwardly away fromeach of said outer cylinders, a head for each of said outer cylinders, apiston slidable in each of said inner cylinders, a main crankshaft towhich said pistons are operatively connected, a pair of substantiallysemi-circular inlet and exhaust valves unitedly forming a practicallycomplete circle for and cooperating with thecorresponding ports of eachof said outer cylinders and located between and slidable lengthwise ofsaid inner and outer cylinders, means to seal the gas pressures in'saidcylinders, a rotary crankshaft revolved by said main crank-shaft,connecting-rods joined to one crank portion of said rotary crank-shaftand connected to and reciprocating the inlet-valve of one cylinder andthe exhaust-valve of the other cylinder, and means operated by saidrotary crankshaft to reciprocate the exhaust-valve of said firstcylinder and the inlet-valve of said second cylinder.

9. The combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports,an inner cylinder inside of and spaced inwardly away from said outercylinder, 21 head for said outer cylinder, a piston slidable in saidinner cylinder, a crank-shaft to which said piston is operativelyconnected, substantially semicircular inlet and exhaust valves unitedlyforming a practically complete circle cooperating with the correspondingports of said outer cylinder and located between and slidable lengthwiseof said cylinders, means to seal the gas pressures in said cylinders,and means operated by said crank-shaft and located at one side only ofsaid piston reciprocating both of said valves.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER KASTEN.

